West Ham vs Man City
London Stadium, London
Saturday, 10-08-2019 @2:30pm
Referee: Mike Dean
Man City had to wait until the final day of the season to win their 4th consecutive Premier League title last season. They were pushed to the limits by Liverpool, requiring 14 successive victories to seal the title. On Saturday, they begin their title defence away to a West Ham side that has strengthened in the offseason. The Hammers have brought in 7 new players and are expected to better their 10th place finish last season.
West Ham’s record signing Sebastien Haller and midfielder Pablo Fornals are expected to make their Premier League debuts on Saturday. Lukasz Fabianski has overcome a groin problem and Jack Wilshere is fit, but Mark Noble misses out with a dead leg.
Rodri and Joao Cancelo could start for Manchester City following their big-money summer arrivals. Leroy Sane is sidelined after damaging the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.
Manchester City have earned seven successive victories against West Ham in all competitions, including 4-0 in last season’s corresponding league fixture. City have won on all four visits to London Stadium, by an aggregate score of 17-1. West Ham have not kept a clean sheet against Manchester City in 16 competitive fixtures since a 0-0 Premier League draw at Upton Park in November 2012.
City are unbeaten in their past 10 opening Premier League fixtures, winning for eight seasons in a row. The reigning champions are vying for a 15th successive Premier League victory. They have only conceded two goals in their past seven away league fixtures, keeping five clean sheets. Sergio Aguero has scored six goals on the opening weekend of the Premier League season. The record is eight, jointly held by Wayne Rooney, Alan Shearer and Frank Lampard. David Silva has scored in in all three of his appearances at the London Stadium and has six goals against West Ham in all competitions, more than versus any other side.
AFC Bournemouth vs Sheffield United
Vitality Stadium, Dorset
Saturday, 10-08-2019 @5m
Referee: Kevin Friend
Bournemouth are without injured players David Brooks, Dan Gosling, Lloyd Kelly, Simon Francis, Lewis Cook and Junior Stanislas for Saturday’s season opener. Summer signings Jack Stacey, Philip Billing, Harry Wilson and Arnaut Danjuma could make their debuts.
Sheffield United have a fully-fit squad, with defender Jack O’Connell recovered from a recent injury. Lys Mousset, who has joined from Bournemouth, is one of several summer signings in line for their debut.
This will be the first meeting since February 2013, when Sheffield United clinched a 1-0 away victory in League One. The clubs are contesting a top-flight encounter for the first time, having previously met in all three Football League divisions. The Cherries’ only win against United in 15 previous league and cup encounters was 1-0 away on the opening day of the 1987-88 season (D4, L10). Sheffield United have won the past eight meetings, and each of their five most recent trips to Bournemouth.
Burnley vs Southampton
Turf Moor, Burnley
Saturday, 10-08-2019 @5pm
Referee: Graham Scott
Burnley’s new recruits Jay Rodriguez and Erik Pieters might be involved, but Danny Drinkwater is unlikely to feature as he has not played for a year. Winger Robbie Brady is out with a rib problem, while midfielder Steven Defour is sidelined by a calf injury.
Southampton could give debuts to summer signings Che Adams and Moussa Djenepo. Former Birmingham forward Adams could start alongside Danny Ings, who made his loan from Liverpool a permanent switch over the summer.
Southampton have not won on any of their last five visits to Turf Moor (D2, L3). The last two meetings at Burnley have ended 1-1, with each featuring an equaliser in the 90th minute or later. Neither side has scored more than one goal in any of the past five encounters. Only 13 goals have been scored in the eight Premier League meetings, with 12 coming in the second half.
Crystal Palace vs Everton
Selhurst Park, London
Saturday, 10-08-2019 @5pm
Referee: Jonathan Moss
Everton are unbeaten in the past nine league meetings, winning four and drawing five. Palace’s sole home win in 10 previous Premier League games versus Everton was 1-0 in October 1994. The Eagles won 2-1 at Everton in the only other opening-day contest between the clubs in 1997 but went on to be relegated. The two sides drew 0-0 at Selhurst Park at the end of April.
Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha has been named in the Eagles’ squad despite him being unhappy about the club denying him a deadline day move. Gary Cahill, Victor Camarasa and James McCarthy could make their debuts but James Tomkins, Mamadou Sakho and Jeffrey Schlupp all remain sidelined.
Everton new recruit Fabian Delph misses out with a thigh injury, while veteran Leighton Baines is doubtful. New signings Moise Kean, Alex Iwobi and Jean-Philippe Gbamin could be involved.
Watford vs Brighton
Vicarage Road, London
Saturday, 10-08-2019 @5pm
Referee: Craige Pawson
Brighton have not won on any of their last four visits to Watford (D2, L2), scoring just one goal in those games. Watford also hosted Brighton in their first league match last season, winning 2-0 through goals from Roberto Pereyra. The away team has failed to score in all four Premier League matches between Watford and Brighton.
Watford’s Gerard Deulofeu has recovered from a muscle problem, while Roberto Pereyra could play a part despite a busy summer at the Copa America. Danny Welbeck has a long-term ankle injury, with Nathaniel Chalobah, Adalberto Penaranda, Domingos Quina and Dimitri Foulquier all also not fit.
Brighton could give competitive debuts to Neal Maupay, Adam Webster, Leandro Trossard and Aaron Mooy. Jose Izquierdo, Ezequiel Schelotto and Yves Bissouma are all injured.
Tottenham vs Aston Villa
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London
Saturday, 10-08-2019 @7:30pm
Referee: Chris Kavanagh
Tottenham’s new signings Giovani Lo Celso and Tanguy Ndombele are available, but Ryan Sessegnon will not feature due to a hamstring problem. Spurs are also without Dele Alli, Serge Aurier, Ben Davies, Juan Foyth and Son Heung-min, but Eric Dier and Victor Wanyama are back in full training.
Aston Villa’s club-record signing Wesley is one of a host of summer arrivals poised to make their debuts. Head coach Dean Smith is only missing the injured James Chester.
Aston Villa’s only victory over Tottenham in their last 17 meetings was 1-0 at White Hart Lane in April 2015 thanks to a Christian Benteke goal. Spurs have won nine of the past 10 encounters, scoring 24 and conceding just three. Their most recent meeting was in the FA Cup third round in 2017, when Tottenham won 2-0 at home.
This is the first time since 2010 that Tottenham have played their opening league match of the season at home. They have lost just one of their six home games on the opening weekend of a Premier League season – against Manchester United in 1997-98. Spurs won only two of their final nine fixtures in 2018-19, keeping a solitary clean sheet (D1, L6). Mauricio Pochettino’s side have lost 13 matches in all competitions in 2019, more than any other current Premier League team. Harry Kane has gone six competitive appearances without a goal for club and country since March. It’s his longest barren spell since a nine-match streak between June and September 2016.
Leicester City vs Wolves
King Power Stadium, Leicester
Sunday, 11-08-2019 @4pm
Referee: Andre Marriner
Details to follow shortly
Newcastle United vs Arsenal
St. James Park, Newcastle
Sunday, 11-08-2019 @4pm
Referee: Martin Atkinson
Details to follow shortly
Manchester United vs Chelsea
Old Trafford, Manchester
Sunday, 11-08-2019 @6:30pm
Referee: Anthoney Taylor
Details to follow shortly